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'Battle for Dale Farm'

Latest from Basildon as bailiffs move in on traveller site.

QUOTE: With the cost of the Dale Farm eviction set to hit £18m, Emma Boon, campaign director for the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It's seriously disappointing that this eviction has taken so long. Taxpayers are the only real losers in this battle.''

by Andy Jackson, PA 10/19/2011 3:46:37 PM
Pretty uncomfortable watching Dale Farm evictions. We're all human, they're doing no harm. Coppers should leave them be.

by MattTurner4L via twitter 10/19/2011 3:54:19 PM
Arrests are coming thick and fast now at #dalefarm

by benjkendall via twitter 10/19/2011 3:54:55 PM
#dalefarm - really, really horrible way to lose your home - this whole situation should have been better handled

by ArticulateT via twitter 10/19/2011 4:20:37 PM
Amnesty: Dale Farm is a forced eviction on an unprecedented scale t.co #dalefarm #forcedeviction

by AmnestyNI via twitter 10/19/2011 4:40:57 PM
Clashes between police and supporters in #dalefarm now. Bricks thrown at running lines.

by benjkendall via twitter 10/19/2011 4:57:51 PM
RT @EssexPoliceUK: Police release statement on use of taser at #dalefarm goo.gl

by benjkendall via twitter 10/19/2011 5:02:03 PM
Bailiffs remove a farm activist from the tower at the entrance to Dale Farm

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 5:17:59 PM
Police have now secured the area and the tower is being dismantled to allow access for bailiffs tomorrow.

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 5:20:43 PM
But sporadic clashes between police and protesters are continuing at the site.

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 5:20:59 PM
QUOTE: Kathleen McCarthy, a Dale Farm resident, said: "The memory of Dale Farm will weigh heavily on Britain for generations - we are being dragged out of the only homes we have in this world. Our entire community is being ripped apart by Basildon Council and the politicians in Government."

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 5:22:35 PM
Activists are taking their support of the travellers too far. Cannot condone violence as a form of protest #DaleFarm

by Hibby_D via twitter 10/19/2011 5:26:18 PM
by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 5:38:00 PM
BREAKING: There were 23 arrests today at the Dale Farm travellers' site for offences including violent disorder, breach of the peace and obstruction, Essex Police said

by Richard Halifax, Press... 10/19/2011 5:58:32 PM
Protesters continue to clash with police at Dale Farm

by Richard Halifax, Press... 10/19/2011 6:03:54 PM
I have now left #dalefarm and in a hotel nearby with pizza. Pretty rough but like luxury compared to last night.

by benjkendall via twitter 10/19/2011 6:07:28 PM
The travellers from #DaleFarm have to go, no argument. They broke the law, end of. I do find all the racism toward them a bit off though

by antond_c via twitter 10/19/2011 6:07:46 PM
A police spokeswoman added that some people were still locked to the lower parts of the scaffolding.

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 6:19:53 PM
Superintendent Trevor Roe of Essex Police said: "The tactic was to take early control of the site. Where we have intelligence there is likely to be violence we need to protect members of the public including bailiffs, police officers, travellers and protesters from injury."

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 6:20:37 PM
Supt Roe added: "Serious violence was offered to two officers and their response was to protect themselves by deploying Taser. Tasers are not generally deployed in public order situations but in this case the officers were threatened directly."

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 6:21:01 PM
The police spokeswoman said that detainees were being booked into custody suites this evening.

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 6:21:09 PM
Basildon Council said MEP Richard Howitt had been removed from the site after he "tricked" his way in to the media compound earlier today.

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 6:37:41 PM
A council spokesman said the East of England MEP, who has publicly backed those facing eviction, had been warned both verbally and in writing that he could not enter the site for security reasons and was told he could visit tomorrow.

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 6:38:09 PM
The spokesman said: "We are extremely disappointed that he chose to completely ignore our communications and tricked his way into the compound, which was a security breach."

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 6:38:41 PM
RT @PaulBrandITV: Have now left #DaleFarm. Site very empty of travellers and protestors - eerie in the dark

by benjkendall via twitter 10/19/2011 7:02:17 PM
A spokesman for the Labour MEP said he was "manhandled" from the media area and was "shaken by the episode".

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 7:27:42 PM
Mr Howitt said: "Today has been a shocking day in which serious events affecting the lives and rights of the people of Basildon have been at stake, and it is utterly reprehensible that the council has sought to stifle free and fair debate about what's happening."

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 7:27:46 PM
He added: "I came here with a message for all to respect the law and to condemn violence against the police, so surely the council should have wanted a responsible elected local politician to have used my influence accordingly?"

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 7:28:06 PM
He concluded: "The story of Dale Farm is one of Basildon Council mismanagement, delay and wasted money, and this is a story that needs to be heard."

by Chris Attridge, Press... 10/19/2011 7:28:30 PM
you gotta give the female protester some credit for asking 100 riot police to take a step back and sit down havent you? #dalefarm

by bowiegirl via twitter 10/19/2011 7:33:25 PM
Ten years was plenty enough time to plan a different future! But instead they stayed. What other outcome could there have been? #DaleFarm

by MrTimSearle via twitter 10/19/2011 7:42:31 PM
RT @essexalliehb: Fire engines have left #dalefarm - wood & pallets burning 'out of control' on the legal (Oak Lane) part of the site

by benjkendall via twitter 10/19/2011 8:40:52 PM
As police and bailiffs begin a second day of the Dale Farm eviction, there are still six protesters chained to barricades in a bid to stop them.

by Helen James, Press Association 10/20/2011 7:42:49 AM
A protester grabs a kiss as he is led away from Dale Farm by a police officer on day two of the forced clearance of the illegal travellers settlement

by Danny Blackburn, Press... 10/20/2011 7:43:09 AM
Some travellers slept away from the site last night and others have said they will leave when the main entrance is clear but some are vowing to stay as long as possible.

by Helen James, Press Association 10/20/2011 7:43:49 AM
The main gate scaffold is still standing and work is under way to demolish or open it before bailiffs begin removing homes from 48 unauthorised plots.

by Helen James, Press Association 10/20/2011 7:44:13 AM
Resident and mother-of-four Mary Sheridan said: "I have nowhere to go but I was scared by the violence and am worried for my children. As soon as the gate opens I want to leave."

by Helen James, Press Association 10/20/2011 7:44:37 AM
But resident Kathleen McCarthy said: "We have been terrified by the level of violence and this was never the plan. We don't want to give up and I plan to lock my daughter in our caravan to resist the bailiffs."

by Helen James, Press Association 10/20/2011 7:45:21 AM
Basildon Council leader Tony Ball said: "I hope that there are no repeats of yesterday's scenes of premeditated violence and disorder from the protesters on the site, and that we can get on with the job of upholding the law, and clearing the site in a safe, professional and dignified way."

by Helen James, Press Association 10/20/2011 7:46:41 AM
A heavy police presence remains at the site, with riot police standing guard in a cordon around the key locations

by Danny Blackburn, Press... 10/20/2011 7:48:13 AM
Another difficult day of policing ahead at Dale Farm. Thoughts with those officers on PSU today.

by janegouj via twitter 10/20/2011 7:49:54 AM
People of Dale farm were offered houses from Basildon council but turned them down as its against their way of life to stay in one place..

by Murdoch1990 via twitter 10/20/2011 7:50:40 AM
Can the government not do more to help the people of Dale Farm, this may happen all over again. X

by Suerhuphu via twitter 10/20/2011 7:51:10 AM
An officer stands guard on day two of the Dale Farm site clearance. Today Basildon Council wants to remove the entrance barricade, remove remaining protestor’s ‘locked-on’ and other impediments/barricades on the site.

by Danny Blackburn, Press... 10/20/2011 7:52:35 AM
Latest statement from Basildon Council in full: www2.basildon.gov.uk

by Danny Blackburn, Press... 10/20/2011 7:52:45 AM

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